Error reporting method for facsimile system

Abstract

Method of audibly reporting an error state of a receiving facsimile system to inform a transmitting party of such an error state and to inform a service station of the error state through a remote error receiving function for maintenance services. The facsimile system includes a voice data storing unit for storing voice data for an error message of the facsimile system; a voice synthesizer for synthesizing voice data after selecting voice data stored in the voice data storing unit under control of a central processing unit; and a switch connected with the facsimile system and the voice synthesizer, for switching a voice error message signal, and outputting one between the voice error message of the voice synthesizer and the facsimile data of the facsimile system through a public switched telephone network, under control of a central processing unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A facsimile system, comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of voice messages each representing a different type of malfunction of said facsimile system;   control means for determining different types of malfunction occurring during operation of said facsimile system;   a voice message generator for generating a voice message corresponding to a specific type of malfunction determined;   communication means for transmitting and receiving facsimile data to and from a telephone line for subsequent printing onto a printable medium; and   switch means connected to said telephone line, and operable in one of an error message transmission mode for permitting automatic transmission of said voice message to a transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line to inform said transmitting facsimile system of said specific type of malfunction in dependence upon determination by said control means of an occurrence of said specific type of malfunction, and operable in a facsimile data reception mode for permitting reception of facsimile data from said transmitting facsimile system in dependence upon reception of said facsimile data from said transmitting facsimile system and determination by said control means of one of an absence of malfunction by said facsimile system and an occurrence of said specific type of malfunction by said facsimile system.   
     
     
       2. The facsimile system of claim 1, further comprised of said voice message generator including a voice synthesizer converting binary information into a plurality of different voice messages each corresponding to a specific type of malfunction. 
     
     
       3. The facsimile system of claim 1, further comprised of said transmitting facsimile system including an attached telephone accommodating verbal communications via the telephone line. 
     
     
       4. The facsimile system of claim 1, further comprised of said specific type of malfunction of said facsimile system representing one of a "out-of-paper" message, a "printer malfunction" message, a "XXX part is out-of-order" message, a "cover open" message and a "paper jam" message. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile system of claim 1, further comprising a scanner for scanning a document and generating image data for transmission via said telephone line. 
     
     
       6. An error reporting method in a receiving facsimile system, comprising the steps of: determining whether a transmission attempt tone from a transmitting facsimile system is received from a telephone line;   switching to a normal facsimile reception mode to print facsimile data received from said telephone line when said receiving facsimile system is in a normal state;   alternatively, switching to an error message transmission mode to automatically transmit a voice message corresponding a specific type of malfunction of said receiving facsimile system to said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line to inform said transmitting facsimile system of said specific type of malfunction, when said receiving facsimile system is in an error state; and   enabling reporting the error state of said receiving facsimile system at said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line by way of said voice message.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: determining whether said facsimile data received from said telephone line contains errors when said facsimile system is in said normal state; and   recording said facsimile data received from said telephone line containing errors prior to switching to said error message transmission mode.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6, further comprised of said specific type of malfunction of said facsimile system representing one of a "out-of-paper" message, a "printer malfunction" message, a "XXX part is out-of-order" message, a "cover open" message and a "paper jam" message. 
     
     
       9. A facsimile system, comprising: a memory for storing therein a plurality of voice messages each representing a specific type of system errors associated to said facsimile system;   switch means connected to a telephone line, and operable in one of an error report transmission mode for enabling said facsimile system to transmit a voice message from said plurality of voice messages stored in said memory corresponding an error experienced by said facsimile system to a transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line, and a normal facsimile reception mode for enabling said facsimile system to receive a facsimile message from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line; and   control means for controlling operation of said facsimile system in one of said error report transmission mode and said normal facsimile reception mode in response to reception of said facsimile message from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line.   
     
     
       10. The facsimile system of claim 9, further comprising a scanner for scanning a document and outputting image data for transmission via said telephone line. 
     
     
       11. The facsimile system of claim 9, further comprised of said transmitting facsimile system including an attached telephone. 
     
     
       12. The facsimile system of claim 8, further comprised of said specific type of malfunction of said facsimile system representing one of a "out-of-paper" message, a "printer malfunction" message, a "XXX part is out-of-order" message, a "cover open" message and a "paper jam" message. 
     
     
       13. The facsimile system of claim 9, further comprising a voice message generator for generating said voice message corresponding to a specific type of malfunction of said facsimile system determined by said control means. 
     
     
       14. The facsimile system of claim 13, further comprised of said voice message generator including a voice synthesizer. 
     
     
       15. A method for reporting an error in a facsimile system, comprising the steps of: determining whether a transmission attempt tone from a transmitting facsimile system is received from a telephone line;   when the transmission attempt tone is received from said telephone line, determining whether said facsimile system experiences any type of malfunction;   when said facsimile system does not experience any type of malfunction, switching to a normal facsimile reception mode to print facsimile data received from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line;   alternatively, when said facsimile system experiences malfunction, determining whether said facsimile data received from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line contains an error;   when said facsimile data received from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line contains said error, registering said facsimile data in a memory and then switching to an error message transmission mode to transmit a voice message corresponding a specific type of malfunction of said receiving facsimile system to said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line;   when said facsimile data received from said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line does not contain said error, switching to said error message transmission mode to transmit said voice message corresponding said specific type of malfunction of said receiving facsimile system to said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line; and   enabling reporting the error state of said receiving facsimile system at said transmitting facsimile system via said telephone line by way of said voice message.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, further comprised of said specific type of malfunction of said facsimile system representing one of a "out-of-paper" message, a "printer malfunction" message, a "XXX part is out-of-order" message, a "cover open" message and a "paper jam" message.